360 vr volumetric media editor

Abstract

A method includes obtaining medical images of the internal anatomy of a particular patient; preparing a three dimensional virtual model of the patient; generating a virtual reality environment using said virtual model of the patient to provide a realistic three dimensional images of actual tissues of the patient; providing an interface to receive user input defining a path through the internal anatomy of the patient within the virtual reality environment to capture various perspectives of the realistic three dimensional images of the internal anatomy of actual tissues of the patient; and generating a patient video capturing the defined path through the internal anatomy of the patient within the virtual reality environment, said patient video showing views of various perspectives of the realistic three dimensional images of the internal anatomy of actual tissues of the patient, said patient video being configured to play on a general purpose computing device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preparing for a medical procedure, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining medical images of the internal anatomy of a particular patient;   preparing a three dimensional virtual model of the patient associated with the internal anatomy of the patient utilizing said medical images;   generating, using a computer device, a virtual reality environment using said virtual model of the patient to provide a realistic three dimensional images of actual tissues of the patient;   providing an interface on an input device of the computer device to receive user input defining a path through the internal anatomy of the patient within the virtual reality environment to capture various perspectives of the realistic three dimensional images of the internal anatomy of actual tissues of the patient;   generating a patient video capturing the defined path through the internal anatomy of the patient within the virtual reality environment, said patient video showing views of various perspectives of the realistic three dimensional images of the internal anatomy of actual tissues of the patient, said patient video being configured to play on a general purpose computing device; and   transmitting said patient video to the general purpose computing device to play on said general purpose computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of defining a path through the internal anatomy of the patient within the virtual reality environment includes the step of accepting inputs from said input device to mark various locations along said path with a marker. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each marker is associated with a particular perspective view of the realistic three dimensional images of the internal anatomy of actual tissues of the patient. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said video is generated using a smoothing operation to show a view that gradually transitions a change in perspective while the video traverses from the particular perspective view of one marker to the particular perspective view of an adjacent marker. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said particular perspective view includes an angle of view and orientation within the virtual model. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said step of defining a path through the internal anatomy of the patient within the virtual reality environment also includes the step of accepting inputs from said input device to associate each marker with one or more particular anatomy layers of the virtual model such that views of said layers in said patient video can be turned on and off along said path. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said step of defining a path through the internal anatomy of the patient within the virtual reality environment also includes the step of accepting inputs from said input device to associate one or more of said markers with a speed of travel along a portion of said path in said patient video. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said interface of said user input device is configured to provide the user with a drag-and-drop interface to place said markers along said path. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of providing a head-mounted display for use by the user to view said path to place said markers along said path. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a marker is associated with a fork in the path splitting the path into two different paths providing a choice to viewer of said patient video to select one of the two different paths. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a marker is associated with one or more notes or added data provided by the user using said interface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said notes include a question or a quiz. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a marker is associated with a selectable control to provide an active video allowing a viewer to interact with a portion video or to provide a passive video that does not allow the viewer to interact with the portion of the video. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a link is transmitted to said general computing device to download said patient video to said general computing device to play said video. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said general purpose computing device is a smart phone. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of defining a path through the internal anatomy of the patient within the virtual reality environment includes the step of accepting inputs from said input device to mark various locations along said path with a marker, wherein each marker is associated with a particular perspective view of the realistic three dimensional images of the internal anatomy of actual tissues of the patient. 
     
     
         17 . A method of preparing for a medical procedure, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining medical images of the internal anatomy of a particular patient;   preparing a three dimensional virtual model of the patient associated with the internal anatomy of the patient utilizing said medical images;   generating, using a computer device, a virtual reality environment using said virtual model of the patient to provide realistic three dimensional images of actual tissues of the patient;   providing an interface on an input device of the computer device to receive user input defining a path through the internal anatomy of the patient within the virtual reality environment to capture various perspectives of the realistic three dimensional images of the internal anatomy of actual tissues of the patient;   generating a patient video capturing the defined path through the internal anatomy of the patient within the virtual reality environment, said patient video showing views of various perspectives of the realistic three dimensional images of the internal anatomy of actual tissues of the patient, said patient video being configured to play on a general purpose computing device;   transmitting said patient video to the general purpose computing device to play on said general purpose computing device for viewing by the patient; and   the patient viewing said video on the general purpose computing device to prepare for the medical procedure.   
     
     
         18 . A method of preparing for a medical procedure, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining medical images of the internal anatomy of a particular patient;   preparing a three dimensional virtual model of the patient associated with the internal anatomy of the patient utilizing said medical images;   generating, using a computer device, a virtual reality environment using said virtual model of the patient to provide realistic three dimensional images of actual tissues of the patient;   providing an interface on an input device of the computer device to receiving user input including the steps of:
 defining a path through the internal anatomy of the patient within the virtual reality environment to provide realistic three dimensional images of the internal anatomy of actual tissues of the patient, and 
 accepting inputs from said input device to mark various locations along said path with a marker, wherein each of said markers can be associated with a particular perspective view of the realistic three dimensional images of the internal anatomy of actual tissues of the patient; 
   generating a patient video capturing the defined path through the internal anatomy of the patient within the virtual reality environment, said patient video showing views of various perspectives of the realistic three dimensional images of the internal anatomy of actual tissues of the patient, wherein   said video is generated using a smoothing operation to show a view that gradually transitions a change in perspective while the video traverses from the particular perspective view of one marker to the particular perspective view of an adjacent marker, and wherein   said patient video is configured to play on a general purpose computing device;   transmitting said patient video to the general purpose computing device to play on said general purpose computing device for viewing by the patient; and   the patient viewing said video on the general purpose computing device to prepare for the medical procedure.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the user interface is configured to accept associating one or more of said markers with one or more of: a speed of travel along a portion of said path in said patient video, one or more layers of anatomy to show along a portion of said path in said patient video, or a fork in the path splitting the path into two different paths providing a choice to patient to select one of the two different paths while viewing said video. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , the user interface is configured to accept associating one or more of said markers with a selectable control to provide an active video allowing the patient to interact with a portion video or to provide a passive video that does not allow the patient to interact with the portion of the video.